(19)

(11)

EP 1 139 844 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 10.10.2001 Bulletin 2001/41 (21) Application number: 99958383.4 (22) Date of filing: 06.12.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A47L 5/28, A47L 9/02 (86) International application number: PCT/GB9904/077 (87) International publication number: WO 0036/961 (29.06.2000 Gazette 2000/26)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 18.12.1998 GB 9827769 (71) Applicant: Dyson Limited Malmesbury,Wiltshire SN16 0RP (GB)	(72) Inventor: BURLINGTON, Geoffrey Michael Edge,Gloucestershire GL6 6NJ (GB) (74) Representative: Cage, John David et al Dyson Research LimitedIntellectual Property DepartmentPO Box 2080 Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0SW Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0SW (GB)